Benin: appointment of a new Rector at the University of Abomey‑Calavi

The Beninese government, at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, appointed new leadership teams to head the public universities. At the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Professor Charlemagne Igué is now the rector. He succeeds Professor Félicien Avlessi, who was appointed on October 13, 2021.

UAC, the country’s largest university, will now be led by Rector Charlemagne Igué, alongside Professor Tahirou Djara, vice-rector for academic affairs; Professor Aliou Saïdou, vice-rector for research; and Ms. Nelly C. Kelome, vice-rector in charge of cooperation and professional integration.

Ms. Véronique Gbegnito will serve as Secretary General. This new team is tasked with strengthening academic governance and addressing the challenges related to the growth of the student population.

At the same time, the Council of Ministers renewed the governing bodies of the other national universities. In Parakou, Professor Bertrand Sogbossi Bocco takes the helm, notably assisted by Tododjitché Thierry Armel Adoukonou for academic affairs and Nasser Mohamed Baco for research.

At the National University of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM), Professor Codjo Edmond Adjovi has been appointed rector, while at the National University of Agriculture (UNA), the position goes to Professor Bruno Djossa.